Outgoing President’s AGM Speech – 5th May 2021
The world seems a very different place from when I became President of the Derby & District Law Society on 1st May 2019. I was looking forward to a busy and successful year and could not imagine the hardships that we all would struggle with over the coming years. COVID-19 has certainly changed the world, not just the legal industry, forever.
Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic I was working towards organising events for the January 2020 to April 2020 period which would have included social gatherings, a bowling evening and a visit to St George’s Park, the FA’s National Training Centre for football and the England team. These ideas were designed to be something outside the norm for our previously hosted events. Additionally, some of them were to be in conjunction with the Derby Society of Chartered Accountants providing a greater scope for networking.
The centrepiece of the D&DLS year, our annual dinner has also been postponed twice from its usual dates in April 2020 and April 2021 and its is hoped that we will finally be able to see you all in November this year for the annual dinner.
It was hoped that going into my second unprecedented year as President we would be able to organise events but continued restrictions have prevented us from moving forward with any plans.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The University of Derby & D&DLS were able to successfully host the Annual Skills Triathlon (remotely) on 14th April 2021 and we are looking forward to the E4E Debating Competition for Schools which commences on the 12th May 2021.
I am also pleased to confirm that during my tenure we have been lucky to welcome DG Legal as a new sponsor. DG Legal provide strategic and compliance-based services to law firms in the UK and have provided our members with access to free webinars and materials during the pandemic and will continue to do so during the coming year.
I wish good luck to our new President Julie Skill, our new Vice-President Manesha Ruparel and our new Deputy-Vice President Oliver Maxwell.
Finally, my thanks go to our committee members, our administrator Julia Saunders for her tireless help and assistance but most importantly to all of you, our members, for your support during a difficult last few years.
So, my extended time as your President is over.
And now my watch is ended.
Thank you and take care.